Also placing for UW in the men’s competition were
senior Willie Via of Fairbanks, Alaska, 20th; and sophomore Sindre Solvang of
Cheyenne, 30th.

Other placers for the women were senior Catherine
Schmidt of Laramie, 11th; and senior Shanna McCleary of Casper, 16th.

The Cowboys, who finished as the national runners-up
last year, sit at the top of the team standings with a team-low eight points,
followed by Clarkson University of New York with 14 and St. Olaf College of
Minnesota with 31. UW won national men’s championships in 2006, 2009 and 2010.

The Cowgirls, who finished third last year, have an
even bigger lead in the team standings than the men. UW sits on top with a
team-low 13 points, followed by Clarkson University with 25 and St. Olaf with
31. UW won national women’s championships in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 and
2010.

The 2013 championships continue through Saturday in
Sun Valley. An 8.5-kilometer classic race is on tap Wednesday. Competitors have
Thursday off. A 15-kilometer skate race is Friday, and the competition
concludes with Saturday’s three-by-5K
relay.

“We’re a pretty strong sprint team, so we knew we
needed to have a good day today,” Boggs says. “We’re also a really good classic
team, so we’re looking to do well tomorrow also.”